It was the type of moment movies are made of as Mitchell scored a last-second shot in a 55-40 victory on Tuesday. It was his first, last and only high school game.

His parents, Clement and Amy Marcus, cried.

His coach, Peter Morales, got chills.

Franklin Cougar fans cheered.

Coronado T-Bird students stormed the court and went wild.

And Mitchell, 18, basked in high school glory as his fellow students carried him off the court.

"Tears immediately came to my eyes, and it was just pure emotion," Clement Marcus said. "I'll take it to my grave. It was a community coming together. Forget the high school rivalry."

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Amy Marcus stood in awe as the Coronado students carried her son on their shoulders like a sports superhero.

"I truly could not believe it when that happened," she said. "It was like an ocean wave engulfed him. Then we see them lift him up. Unforgettable."

Mitchell, a senior, has been one of the most loyal T-Birds on the Coronado boys' basketball team as a manager -- the guys who pick up balls, take players water, gather up warmups and do all the jobs players don't do.

Video courtesy of Ben Marcus

"They are like family to me," said Mitchell, who has been a team manager for four years. "I love basketball."

From the first game this season, it was just as much Mitchell's dream to win a District 1-5A championship as it was the team's and his coach's.

He was such a big part of the team that Tuesday, as the players were preparing for their season finale against the rival Cougars, the players began to ask Morales whether Mitchell could suit up.

"I was already a step ahead of them," Morales said. "He earned it. Just to suit out was a great thing for him."

Morales told Mitchell during the daily shoot-around that he would be wearing No. 24, the same number as Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

"He was just bubbly in the car going to the game," Clement Marcus said.

Because it was the last regular season game, the team's seniors were honored before the game, and each one was given a game ball. Mitchell stood with the four other seniors.

"Just putting the jersey on was big enough for him," Amy Marcus said.

But Morales and his players had a more ambitious goal: Mitchell was going to play, and he was going to score.

"It was senior night, but it was more Mitchell's night to shine," senior David Velasco said. "We knew we needed to get a lead big enough so he could play."

With one minute, 30 seconds left in the game, Coronado led by 10 points. It was a lead, but any basketball fan knows 90 seconds is enough time for a few quick 3-pointers to erase it.

An undefeated District 1-5A record and championship would not be the same without Mitchell. Morales sent the senior into the game to a thunderous ovation.

"I really trust this team with big leads and small leads," Morales said. "I knew they were going to take care of Mitchell. I knew they were going to help him score."

As soon as Franklin got the ball, Coronado went on the attack. Coronado players told Mitchell to go to the other side of the court and get into his sweet spot so he could shoot.

As Mitchell waited for his moment, the T-Birds played four-on-five defense against the Cougars.

"We knew they were just going to jack up 3's," Velasco said. "Our goal was to play D(efense), get rebounds and get it to Mitchell."

After a Franklin miss, Coronado's players got the ball into Mitchell's hands, and he arched the ball for a 3-pointer and almost made it.